Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony gets under way with show of Korean unity in Pyeongchang

Lizzy Yarnold flies the flag for Great Britain as 35,000 fans gathered for the opening ceremony in the South Korean city

Pictured

From Dave Kidd in Pyeongchang

9th February 2018,1:54 pm

Updated: 12th February 2018,2:25 pm

LIZZY YARNOLD led a largest-ever British team at a Winter Olympics – in a weird and wonderful worldwide melting pot of an opening ceremony.

Skeleton champion Yarnold, bidding to become the first Brit to defend a title at the winter games, took the union flag on behalf of 59 athletes – the vast majority of whom braved sub-zero temperatures at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium.

While the Swiss, the Canadians, Americans and Norwegians have sent impressively large delegations – the true wonders are the likes of the Jamaican and Nigerian bobsleigh teams, who have made it to the Winter Olympics against the odds, as well as a middle-aged Bermudan couple wearing shorts.

Earlier in the day, Yarnold was boosted by a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport which had dismissed a bid from 45 Russian drug cheats to gatecrash these Games – although there will still be 168 ‘clean’ Russians competing here under a neutral banner.

One of those barred Russians was one of Yarnold’s chief competitors for skeleton gold, Elena Nikitina.

Yarnold flew the flag for Team GB as 35,000 fans gathered around heated seats for the opening ceremony in the South Korean city.

Darm off

MINISTER'S GAFFE

LIFE'S A PITCH

GAA postpone fixtures a second time as snow continues to cause problems

However, 169 Russians are competing under the Olympic flag with neutral kit and no anthem, with their nation excluded by the International Olympic Committee following an investigation into state-sponsored doping.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: “You will inspire us all to live together in peace and harmony despite all the differences we have.

“You will inspire us by competing for the highest honour in the Olympic spirit of excellence, respect and fair play,” said Bach.